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Elucidation of risk factors and health determinants associated with PROGRESSION of Monoclonal Gammopathies to Multiple Myeloma

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ELMUMY (Elucidation of risk factors and health determinants associated with PROGRESSION of Monoclonal Gammopathies to Multiple Myeloma)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30

Multiple Myeloma is a chronic malignancy characterized by slow progression and recurrences. Currently there is no effective cure since eventually the disease develops resistance to all the available therapeutic approaches. Although recent advances have expanded our understanding of the cellular functions associated with health to disease transition, recurrence and response to therapy, critical aspects of this complex pathology remain to be elucidated.
Application of omics technologies, and bioinformatics approaches on highly annotated samples obtained from all informative states (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance [MGUS], smoldering MM [sMM], active MM [MM]) could identify biological pathways and molecules responsible for the onset, progression and resistance to therapy of Multiple Myeloma. In parallel, particular emphasis will be given to elucidating the health determinants and risk factors associated with progression to active MM from MGUS/sMM by using extensive demographic, lifestyle and exposure datasets.
MGUS is present in 3-5% of the ageing European population and every year, 1% progress to incurable MM that imposes a significant burden on EU societies and health systems. Thus, the best chances of curing MM may be in preventing its progression in the first place. Moreover, there is need of experimental models that recapitulate myeloma progression. We propose an interdisciplinary approach bringing together clinicians and researchers aiming to integrate epidemiological, clinical and experimental datasets in order to create a molecular model of cellular processes associated with the onset of active MM and response to therapy. The proposed systems medicine approach could yield clinically actionable molecular features that could improve MM patient management. Moreover, the integration.
The ELMUMY project has collected and generated multiple data and resources that offer insights for the onset and progression of MM.
The clinical partners have collected samples from several thousand patients representing the preclinical and symptomatic stages of the disease.
Several hundred biopsies have been analysed with advanced methods allowing the identification of molecular features associated with progression to MM.
Cell culture and animal studies have offered information on the biochemical profile of MM.
The various datasets are being compiled in order to generate a comprehensive picture for the onset of MM.
Lifestyle, clinical and omics information will provide specific profiles for each patient allowing personalized diagnosis, prevention, and therapeutic approaches.
The biological processes and molecules identified so far have the potential to improve diagnosis and therapy of MM.
The introduction of these novel features to clinical practice will require clinical trials in independent patient cohorts. These clinical trials will require the participation of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
The protocols for analysis of biological samples, the cell lines and the mouse models will be described in publications and shared with other EU funded projects.
Map of ELMUMY partners
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